Overview
- The Bernabéu match kicks off Saturday at 4:15 p.m. local time, with leaders Real Madrid on 12 points and third‑placed Espanyol two points back after four rounds.
- Kylian Mbappé enters in prolific form with four La Liga goals and 50 overall for Madrid after a midweek brace against Marseille.
- Trent Alexander‑Arnold is out for weeks with a hamstring injury, and Dean Huijsen remains suspended despite LaLiga acknowledging his red card was an officiating error.
- Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga were on the bench versus Marseille and are available to play, while Endrick trained fully this week and could be included in the squad.
- Espanyol travel confident after three wins and a draw, though top scorer Pere Milla is suspended; reports suggest Madrid may rotate, with Vinícius Júnior pushing to start and potential adjustments in defense.